I did the paper put a deposit on the car so they can hold it for me, I went back couple days later car was still there and ready to go. I got this car because I love the rotary engine for it's smoothness and linear power output. I went in to see the car he let me test drive. Less than 21 mpg on the freeway? Is it a bit sharper than you thought? Those same owners, however, often complain about the car's sometimes disappointing fuel economy and noticeable shortage of low-end torque. A sunroof is now standard on the Grand Touring trim and Mazda has made significant improvements to the rotary engine aimed at minimizing oil consumption. If spec sheets turn you on and raw performance, handling, and other such numbers are the primary metric by which you judge a car, we have several articles right here at the top of the MotorTrend. Really, you could call this car a bargain-priced exotic.
Enthusiasts will argue that Mazda made its compromises in the right places -- namely, to creature comforts rather than sporting credentials. This is where the numbers people who are still reading get to chime back in. Total blast to drive, hugs the road like glue. Start by winding out the engine to its stratospheric 9000-rpm redline and working the crisp gearshift. The real story, though, is in the handling. And while we loved the Recaro seats and Bilstein dampeners on our R3 sport model, the pedals were disappointingly far apart, making heel-toe work difficult.
See that yellow warning sign suggesting a safe, reasonable speed at which to execute the next corner? Driving It At idle, a slight, distinctive vibration is the telltale sign a rotary engine lurks beneath the hood; it's not annoying in any way and actually makes the car feel almost alive. Able to work out a great deal on this truck Scheduled to pick it up tomorrow! It's an amazing road with almost no traffic, good pavement, and miles upon miles of corners. You won't care at all about the zero-to-60 time or standing quarter-mile, because you'll be busy trying to figure out how 232 horsepower and 159 pound-feet of torque could feel so fast. I had a smooth ride and I love my car very clean. Half an hour into my drive, I blew the left rear tire. This, of course, brings us back to Mazda's dilemma. This balance is the precursor to confidence.
Yes, it could have more power, and truth be told, it wouldn't hurt. The rotary is therefore mechanically very simple, has minimal moving parts and is quite small. As you tackle turn after turn, your confidence grows substantially. I have no idea what I hit, but it put a hole the size of a nickel in the tread. There's the tire issue we covered earlier, as well as the value-per-dollar and fuel economy issues. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that third gear is good for 100 mph, and you still have three more. Except now I was another two-and-a-half hours behind schedule.
Sure, it would've been much faster to stay on Highway 101, but never has a completely unnecessary detour been worth the extra hour it added to a trip that would've already been six hours long without any shenanigans. No, with less than a quarter-tank left, I was going the next 54 miles to Highway 101 in search of cheaper fuel. The car has stability control, but you wouldn't know it unless you made an awfully big mistake -- it's that permissive. It's not the easiest car to live with every day, but if you sought out this car to begin with, you won't care because it will absolutely be worth it. Why Mazda chose this design is a bit of a mystery, as a nice analog speedometer could easily have been placed on either side of the tachometer. The company was reportedly ready to shelve the project years ago if not for the insistence of its North American unit, but all the Rotary fans in the country can't make the engine meet its performance and efficiency goals. This is not a numbers car, nor is it a numbers story.
It's just so much fun to drive. With a 9000-rpm redline, all you have to do is keep the engine between 4000 and 6000 rpm and you'll always find more than enough power on tap for quick bursts of acceleration. The steering, meanwhile, has incredible feel for an electric unit, but again, you don't really need it since all it's telling you is that the front tires are biting hard into the pavement and have no intention of letting go. After six years on the road, the continues to mystify the market and divide enthusiasts, and, as its end nears, we deemed it worthy of another look. The R3 adds to the Sport's standard equipment a sport tuned suspension, side sills, fog lights, 19-inch wheels surrounded by performance rubber and Recaro sport seats. And sure, I had to draft a horse trailer toward the end and turn off all the accessories.
Extremely well balanced, east to drift, unfettered by weight. I could put it right where I wanted. I also like the fact that I can now bring all my friends along instead of ri. Nevermind that I didn't know exactly where the next gas station was my portable navi was in the trunk and I couldn't risk stopping to get it, or to relieve myself for that matter , or that the needle was squarely on the E 10 miles before I reached the gas station. The six-speed shifter requires only the slightest movement to change gears, and the clutch engages so smoothly it's easy to execute neat, clean shifts. A proper road trip was in order. As one senior Mazda engineer told me, the company is very proud of its heritage and hasn't forgotten that it was a Rotary Engine that propelled Mazda to what would be the only overall win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for a Japanese car company.
Pobst had the same first- and second-place rankings. Its bulging wheel arches, unusual half-doors and low profile give it a look that either draws you in or leaves you cold. As we return the keys to Mazda, we do so with the knowledge that this could be the last Rotary-powered sports car we drive. A maximum torque rating of 159 pound-feet is not much to brag about, but with a 9000-rpm redline 7500-rpm with the automatic transmission , you can milk every ounce of the engine's power before upshifting. Navigation is only available on the mid-range model and while the clamshell doors are nice, only those of average height or less will be using the back seats. Fear not power oversteer on corner exit, for it will not ruin your day. Haven't put any gas in it yet.
As I reached the end of Highway 33 out in the countryside, my gas gauge was showing the pain I had inflicted on the car. The electrically controlled steering is neutral and extremely precise in both its execution and feedback. That single limitation, though, makes it that much easier to drive the car fast. Less than a month later we reported that Mazda is planning to drop the model in the U. Although you can opt for full leather seating, it won't have the same Velcro-like grip on your clothing of the standard seats, which is a nice attribute when hurrying around tight curves. Or perhaps it's the sound those little spinning triangles make as you rapidly approach redline -- something akin to listening to an old Formula 1 car through a brick wall. The Touring trim has been dropped, as have the Premium Package options.
In fact, any such hysterics require a concerted effort. A combination of suede-like fabric and ribbed cloth inserts covers the excellent sport bucket seats, and the driver's seat features a height-adjustable cushion. There is a price for this car's abilities, and you will pay it at the gas pump. My plan was to drive north from Los Angeles on Highway 1 until I hit Oxnard, then jump on Highway 101 long enough to get to Highway 33 just outside of Ventura. The auxiliary input for the Bose stereo was useful, but its location at the back of the storage compartment below the center armrest made for an awkward reach, especially since you still have to work your iPod manually. Thanks to my hypermiling, the fuel economy for that tank of gas hit 16.